Vegetable Frittatas

Frittatas are a traditional baked egg dish that originated in Spain. Great as a filling lunch or even as a starter, they are beefier than an omelette and can be served hot or cold.

You can add additional blanched veg or even throw in some cooked chicken or prawns to make them go a bit further. 

Yoghurt Cornbread Cake

Cornbread is made using a mixture of cornmeal also know as maize and regular flour. This recipe is sweetened with a little low fat yoghurt and honey to keep the calories down. The cake will keep perfectly for a couple of days if stored in an airtight container or biscuit tin. 

It's perfect sliced up and served with a little low fat butter or can be made into a more substantial dessert by adding some fresh fruit and adding a scoop of low fat ice cream or sweetened crème fraiche (just add some low calorie sweeteners, crushed with the back of a spoon).

Apple & Courgette Bread

Apple & Courgette bread on the menu today. This cakey-loaf is light and moist and the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. Nice on it's own, or even better when served with a little low fat butter on top. The loaf will keep perfectly for a couple of days if stored in an airtight container or biscuit tin.

Wholemeal Sesame Bagels

A bit of baking on the menu today. Bagels are a fantastic lunchtime staple and are a great alternative to bread that would be perfect for a picnic now the summer seems to be finally here. 

Yes, they are a bit fiddly and yes, there are a few steps involved, but they taste great and are really worth the additional effort.

Sweet Potato Crisps

A very simple recipe on the blog today. Sweet Potato crisps are a great alternative to regular crisps and are very easy to make. 

Ready in no time, they are simply baked in the oven and topped with a little firey pepper to finish.

Carrot & Lentil Soup

Some soup on the menu today! Lentils are a great standby cupboard item as they contain lots of vitamins and nutrients and they really fill you up. You can use tinned or dried pre-soaked lentils and any colour will work. Unlike some of the other soups on the site, this one doesn't contain any potatoes so is kept on the lighter side and is a little more Summery. 

Serve with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges. A couple of Ryvita crisp bread also go very well as an alternative. 

English Muffins

English Muffins on the menu today! English muffins are small white bread-like rolls that are delicious when toasted. Ideal with sweet or savoury toppings they are a great alternative to regular bread and are great for lunch.

Seafood Chowder

Delicious seafood chowder on the menu today. Onion, leek and celery gently sautéed, then simmered in milk and stock. Thickened with potatoes and finished with smoked coley and cooked prawns.

You could easily substitute the coley for haddock or cod. You could also add some mixed seafood like clams, mussels or even calamari. 

Strawberry Filo Baskets

Strawberries on the menu today! This recipe is the perfect summer dessert, but with a fraction of the calories. Naturally low fat filo replaces stodgy pastry and sweetened low fat crème fraîche is used instead of full fat cream.

It's actually 'National Strawberry Week' this week and there are lots of offers about in the various supermarkets to celebrate. The Bord Bia website: Best In Season.ie has more nutritional information about strawberries and other seasonal fruit and veg. 

Vegetable Samosas

These vegetable samosas contain the classic combination of seasoned mashed potato with peas and spring onion wrapped in filo pastry. Most traditional recipes suggest you deep fry them, but in this recipe they are baked to reduce the calories.

They are a bit fiddly to start with but become easier with a little practice. 

Pineapple Salsa

This pineapple salsa is light and refreshing and goes great served along side grilled fish, gammon or chicken. 

Alternatively you can mix the prepared salsa into some cooked couscous or rice to make a more substantial side dish. Adding blanched broccoli or cauliflower, or cooked chicken or prawns, could easily turn it into a main course.

The basic salsa mix can be made in advance and refrigerated until you need to use it. 

Strawberry Yoghurt Cookies

These strawberry cookies get their flavour from a mixture of strawberry yoghurt and strawberry jam. A little bit cake-y, a little bit scone-y, they have a similar consistency to macaroons and go great with a cup of tea or a coffee. 

They are delicious on their own, but you could also slice them in half and add a little low fat butter spread.

The cookies are best kept in an air-tight container or biscuit tin and will keep for several days.

Saffron & Pine Nut Pilaf

Pilaf is an Indian style of cooking where seasoned rice is simmered gently allowing the flavour to infuse. Ideal as a side dish that would go great with grilled chicken or fish, you could also turn it into a main meal by adding some cooked chicken or prawns or keep it veggie by adding dried raisins and cooked peas.

The toasted pine nuts in the dish go very well with the rice and add additional texture. Toasted mixed nuts, flaked almonds or even pumpkin seeds would all work as substitutes.

Carrot Cake Muffins

These carrot cake muffins are light and moist and unlike other muffin recipes, don't contain lots of oil.

You could easily add some fruit such as dried raisins, fresh blueberries or blackberries to the completed mixture. A handful of chopped nuts would also work, but make sure to count the extra calories if you are watching your weight. 

Leek & Bean Soup

Some soup on the menu today! This soup is an Italian style vegetable soup that's ready in no time and really fills you up. Tinned cannelloni, butter, kidney or mixed beans would all work well. If using dried beans, soak as advised and allow to simmer in the stock for the required time before frying the additional veg. 

Serve with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges. A couple of Ryvita crisp bread also go very well as an alternative.